Mississippi Mermaid (1970)

*** This review may contain spoilers *** I bought this movie two years ago and finally finished it today. It took three separate attempts for me to make it through this dark, boring, masochistic tale. That says a lot.The only reason I finished it is because I wanted to get "closure". Kind of like going to a funeral. That says a lot, too.As another reviewer said, there is NO WAY that any man could be as utterly STUPID and NAÏVE as the main character. Especially a man who is a fourth generation plantation owner and runs a big factory. Here is a man who has been a leader all his life, led everyone from domestic servants to farm and factory workers. A man in his position would have encountered hundreds of manipulators and con artists in his life, as well as dozens of gold diggers. Yet he falls for this woman? Ha! The most eligible bachelor on the colony and yet he has to resort to a personal ad? Ha! This man would have had local girls in droves.Truffaut, like Goddard, started out great, but was making mostly garbage by the late 1960s. They ran out of ideas, and once the novelty of the Nouvelle Vague wore off, the magic was gone. They ended up being captured, propped up and supported by the Hollywood/French film industry that they had first rebelled against and criticized.After viewing most of Truffaut's catalogue, I just don't think he was as good as everyone has been led to believe. Either was Goddard, for that matter. Melville was a much better film maker on every level, yet never got a tenth of the recognition. I believe that when it all comes down to it, most of Truffaut's movies are a pain to watch. They are way too long. They go along slowly: boring, brooding, and hopeless. Filled with characters that go from one self-imposed hell to another. This movie is a perfect example.I don't have to mention all the impossible parts of the story line: The French government and the Catholic Church are sticklers for documents. How did they get married without anyone noticing anything funny about her passport? How did a bank in a small town – on an island - just happen to have 28 million French francs cash in the vault that day? (About $5.5 million at the time). You think that any bank manager would release that kind of money to ANYONE without an appointment and the presence of multiple witnesses and signed affidavits? You don't think he would make damn sure that one of the richest men on the island from one of the oldest families was notified before his accounts were drained? What I.D. did she use to get the money out of the bank? I mean, I could believe it if she got away with maybe a million. But basically all the money? Come on. The list goes on. These are really key aspects of the plot that make the story so unbelievable. Not to mention the ridiculous love angle.I believe that Belmondo and Deneuve did the movie just for the money. They were both past their peaks, especially Belmondo. Their presence in the movie, and the fact that Truffaut directed it, is the only reason anyone would ever want to watch this movie, or remember it. I didn't find anything inspiring about their performances.Many critics through the years have charged Nouvelle Vague directors with having outright contempt for their audience. In addition describing their movies as being direct attacks on the viewers' supposed naiveté. This movie really fits the bill on both charges. Movies like this remind me of how we Americans used to talk about foreign movies back in the 1970s. People would say how crazy, weird and pointless these foreign movies were, and RIGHTLY so. "Mississippi Mermaid" is a perfect example.The worst thing about the whole mess is all the artsy-fartsy wannabees who give this movie great reviews and talk about how "wonderful" and "inspiring" it is; how "great" the lead actors' performances were. Are you kidding me?

This movie feels a bit like 'Truffaut doing Hitchcock', which has its good points and bad points. On the positive side, it may surprise you with you with its twists and turns. Knowing absolutely nothing about it, I was intrigued by the first part, when a tobacco plantation owner on Reunion Island (Jean-Paul Belmondo) meets his fiancée (Catherine Deneuve) who he met and fell in love with through the mail, soon realizing that not is all as it seems. However, on the negative side (and without giving away the plot), as the movie went on, the actions of the characters (and Belmondo in particular) were not always believable. Even if you factor in love and physical attraction driving people to extremes, he's remarkably blasé about missing 27 million francs. It kept my interest and had some great shots by Truffaut, including a fantastic scene between Belmondo and Deneuve at a fireplace, but ends up 'good' and 'not great' as a result.

I didn't like this much because I couldn't respect the protagonist.Jean-Paul Belmondo has an incredible mug, somewhat of a hybrid of early Brando and Sylvester Stallone. However, his character seems to suffer from either profound mental retardation or suicidal denial.First Marion (Catherine Deneuve) rips him off for 28 million francs. Then he kills a PI to protect her from the cops and must go on the lam. Then his lady love tries to poison him with strychnine. Yet he still finds her adorable. And he doesn't question this because true amour is "difficult."Oh, give me a friggin' break! I'm surprised so exalted a director as Truffaut took this claptrap seriously.I read on Wikipedia that this is one of only three films ever shot in Reunion, a French overseas department off the eastern coast of Africa. I did enjoy some of the tropical scenes. But the characterizations in this film are insulting to anyone of normal intelligence. (Why, why, why would a gumshoe have been so trusting as to confront a shady customer in so confined a space? What WAS he thinking?) Given all the talent in this film, I'm surprised it was so dumb.

The film is a joy to watch, not just for the plot, which is gripping, but also for the superb performances of the actors, Deneuve and Belmondo. Though considered a 'flop' on its first release it has become a critical success, and it is clear to see why. Deneuve's acting style suited the film brilliantly. she constantly gives the impression that she is holding back or hiding something, and her character in this film is. I will not spoil it with saying what, though it is divulged fairly early on. Belmondo is lovable as the fairly naiive but in love tobacconist. I would recommend this film to all Truffaut or Deneuve fans. It is a brilliant Hitchcockian style thriller with exciting twists and interesting relationships and characters that develop as the film does. The film is approx 2 hrs, so you feel that you have not been sold short. Deneuve steals the show in this film, and it is clear that at the time of making the film Truffaut was very much smitten with her. A definite must see for any cineaste or moviefan. 10/10